Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most luminous explosions in the universe, which within seconds release energy comparable to what the Sun releases in its entire lifetime. The field of GRBs has developed rapidly and matured over the past decades. Written by a leading researcher, this text presents a thorough treatment of every aspect of the physics of GRBs. It starts with an overview of the field and an introduction to GRB phenomenology. After laying out the basics of relativity, relativistic shocks, and leptonic and hadronic radiation processes, the volume covers all topics related to GRBs, including a general theoretical framework, afterglow and prompt emission models, progenitor, central engine, multi-messenger aspects (cosmic rays, neutrinos, and gravitational waves), cosmological connections, and broader impacts on fundamental physics and astrobiology. It is suitable for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and experienced researchers in the field of GRBs and high-energy astrophysics in general.

The unprecedented growth in the semiconductor, electronics and storage industries is the result of continued miniaturization of circuit devices, increases in chip functionality, and increased storage capacity and performance, along with a decrease in per-function cost. Hardware shrinkage has taken place, leading to similar decreases in the dimensions of interconnection wires, contact metallization and magnetic storage footprints. The increasingly important role of surfaces, interfaces, defects and impurities has raised serious materials questions about how to control the properties of polycrystalline thin films used in applications requiring tight performance tolerances. The understanding of polycrystalline film structures during growth, and the evolution of various film properties with time and temperature, is critical to the successful design and development of smaller devices. This book, first published in 1999, highlights the directions taken to understand and control the properties of polycrystalline materials. Topics include: magnetic thin films; microstructure, texture and stress; copper microstructure; nanocrystalline magnetic thin films and thin-film permanent magnets.